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The airline said 737 pilots based in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth were required to stay overnight in Adelaide to operate the first wave of early morning flights, and that establishing a pilot base in Adelaide would reduce costs and improve scheduling processes.

Qantas has 737 bases in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane.

The establishment of an A380 base in Melbourne was expected to result in about 50 pilots moving to the city.

The airline said the creation of the Adelaide and Melbourne bases would not affect the total number of 737 and A380 pilots employed by the airline, but rather where they are located.

"Given Melbourne is a key part of our international network, it makes sense to open an A380 pilot base there," Qantas head of flying operations Captain Mike Galvin said.